Disclaimer: Do not own Durarara only own my OCs.

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(Author's note: Alternates between Shizuo and Izaya) This is Shizuo's chapter and chapter 2 with be Izaya's story.

The first time Shizuo met her he had been told to do an extra project for his barely passing Literature grade. She had been part of the library committee at the time quietly reading a novel behind the front desk. At the time he had noticed she had long yet slender pale fingers flipping the book from left to right rather than the traditional way from right to left.

He figured she was reading a book in a foreign language. Then again, she did seem foreign appearance wise.

Her eyes were downcast reading digesting the words on every page with careful concentration. Her eyes shown with a gentle hue that made the blue and violet in her eyes merge as one colour. Her hair was a pitch black midnight with hues of a midnight blue in the streaks.

As for himself, he was totally screwed for this assignment, he didn't know where to begin. Sensei had suggested something easy like a fairytale and write a paper about whether there was any truth in fairytales or not.

"Are there any fairytales in the library?" He asked gruffly.

Startled she looked up with wide eyes finally noticing his presence. She blushed for not noticing earlier. She pulled out a notepad scribbling something quickly before showing him her writing.

She had written. Gomen, I didn't catch your question. I tend to forget I'm supposed to be watching the library.

He read her words noting her sincerity in her expression. She looked truly apologetic at her clumsiness.

"No, that's fine... uh sorry... for you know, scaring you. Could you uh show me where the fairytales are? Preferably one in English?"

She nodded excited with a smile. She stood up from her chair motioning him to follow her to one of the shelves. He noticed that she wore the uniform's skirt and white button up, but she wore an unfamiliar sweater over the blouse.

She was short for her age standing at about 150cm while he stood a good 180cm at the time.

Her footsteps were very light like a dancer while her appearance was childish her eyes held wisdom of someone much older.

Following behind the girl she stopped at a bookshelf pulling out a couple of books from the shelves. She turned back around facing him; she had to tip her head up to meet his eyes.

She held out the books with a smile. She showed him her notepad once again to convey her words.

There should be a few you can use. Is this for a literature assignment?

"Yeah. If I don't do this I'll fail."

Then I suggest using the more generic fairytales. Maybe something like Cinderella or Beauty and The Beast? Sleeping Beauty?

Would you prefer the true story or the children's version?

He didn't understand what the difference was. "What's the difference?"

She smiled knowing with a faraway gaze in her blue violet eyes. Not all stories have happy endings.

You'll understand if you read them side by side. She wrote. By any chance does your assignment concern something about truth in fairytales?

Shizuo blinked in surprise that she knew. "Yeah, but I don't understand what this has to do with Literature."

She guided both of them to an empty table settling the books down. She sat down first while he sat across from her. She began writing in her notepad.

Think of it like this, if you were to be a character from one of these fairytales who would you be? What about your close friends, the people around you? Or even what events portray similar traits from these stories. Take for example, Sleeping Beauty her deep sleep can be translated as a comatose state in reality.

She explained in her writing. That's why I like Literature. There is no right answer. There will always be a better choice but never a correct one.

"That still doesn't help me."

Just try.

"Can I do it about you?" He had asked not in the mood to search for a candidate for his paper.

She had blinked in surprise before she broke into a tiny smile.

Sure. In your eyes, which fairytale am I most similar to?

Shizuo opened his eyes and found himself curled up in his bed sheets. Groaning he got up ready for another day. It had been a while since he ever thought about his time in high school. He got ready for work dressing in his usual attire of his bartender outfit that his younger brother bought for him in bulk. That time didn't last very long if he thought about it; the time spent with her.

"Shizuo you seem to have a lot on your mind." Tom noted "Did something happen?"

"No. Just thinking." Shizuo responded. The only times he ever saw her were by the pool, the library, the art room or the music room, but never in an actual classroom.

Shizuo took a break from work to smoke at West Ikebukuro Park. The sounds of a horse could be heard from the streets just as he noticed Celty's motorbike rounded the corner; he knew Celty wasn't human but it had never bothered him. She wasn't as annoying like those other girls.

Celty was dressed all in black with that yellow helmet that played as her head. She stepped off her motorcycle making her way towards Shizuo.

Shizuo, was there ever a student with red hair when you were in high school?

Shizuo blinked surprised Celty would ask such a question.

"I don't think so. Unless you're talking about that girl?" Shizuo frowned.

Celty shrugged not very sure herself. Shinra said you would know. Apparently, I'm supposed to meet her here, but I haven't seen her. I tried looking everywhere.

Shizuo understood full well why Shinra would assume that. Back then, once in a while he would visit the library to read a book to pass the time, but in truth it was just an excuse to see her. But she had disappeared without a trace afterwards as if she didn't exist.

"How much did Shinra tell you?" Shizuo asked a little peeved Shinra would spill the beans.

Celty frantically typed He told me she wasn't a normal student and that she couldn't speak.

"Damn right, she wasn't afraid of me." Shizuo smiled slightly at the memory. There were many negative rumours about him it was probably a given that she would be afraid, and yet she teated him like any other person. "She was even stranger than Shinra."

Celty found that hard to believe.

Do you know where she could be in this park?

Shizuo scanned his surroundings noticing rectangular fountain the closest water source. Celty noticed a vein ready to pop on his forehead. He looked ready to smash a brick wall. Celty recalled one more fact Shinra had told her.

Could she really be... No it was absolutely possible if it was her.

Nearby there were men in black suits scouring the area as if they were searching for someone. "Where did she go? They said she'd be here. She'll catch a hefty price"

That sparked a nerve with Shizuo. Not because their morals were wrong. It was because...

He had heard those exact words ten years ago.

They were looking for the exact girl. And he had a feeling he knew this girl quite well. It was definitely her again.

Without a second thought he wrapped his arms around a vending machine hurling the huge damn piece of metal at the thugs.

"STAY OUT OF MY WAAAY." Shizuo roared causing the men to shrink in fear of the ex-bartender. They retreated in murmured whispers. "Shit we better come back next time."

As Shizuo made his way towards the fountain his footsteps made indents in the cement startling the other residents. He was mad, no he was more than mad.

HE WAS FUCKING FURIOUS.

Right before they became second years, she had suddenly disappeared without a trace. She'd left without saying goodbye. The last time he saw her she had been crying at the sight of him.

He wanted answers and he wanted them now.

Why was she back in Ikebukuro?

Why did she disappear ten years ago?

Where did she go?

How has she been?

Did you forget about me?

Celty watched the enraged Shizuo stand by the pool not even hesitating to stick his hands in the fountain. What startled Celty was what he pulled out of the faountain.

It was none other than a person.

A female with crimson red hair that cascaded down to the middle of her back.

The girl had such a shocked expression that she had to grab hold of Shizuo's shoulders from falling out of his arms.

It was deja vu all over again. A blast from the past if you will.

Once again she found herself getting his clothes wet emitting a clean and yet a sweet scent of honey and rain that he remembered.

Her violet eyes watered at the sight before her, he hadn't changed much in the last ten years. The same blond hair, the same pissed off expression, the same ridiculous strength, she had the urge to cry at the familiarity of his actions. She revealed to him a water smile.

"How many times do I have to tell you DON'T TAKE NAPS UNDERWATER!"

But the girl merely chuckled and shrugged not speaking a word.

Instead she used her finger to spell words against his chest moving her finger to form the words.

It's nice to see you again too Heiwajima-senpai.

That one question Shizuo asked reminded Celty of one interesting point Shinra had mentioned before she left.

"When we were in high school, no one knew her real identity, no records of her previous home, no parents, no siblings whatsoever."

"We all suspected there was something off about her."

What did you suspect? She had typed onto her PDA.

"She wasn't entirely normal."

"Shizuo was told to write an assignment regarding whether there was any truth in fairytales. He had decided to focus his paper on people."

"The person he had written about was her."

Shinra chuckled at the memory that came to mind.

"Do you know which character he related her to?"

Celty understood why Shizuo would think this way. Being able to breathe underwater, rendered mute, and the crimson red hair, she couldn't blame him for thinking so. Shinra's last words before Celty had left to retrieve this girl still echoed in her ears.

"In Shizuo's eyes,-"

"she was The Little Mermaid."

On the other hand, Shinra was having a cup of coffee having a little chat with his father.

"The little mermaid." Shinra brought up. "Yes I remember such a person, we met a while back. Why do you need her?"

Shingen with his gas mask merely waved off the question. "It's for my own personal interest really. Do you know that those two were called?"

"The Fairytale duo."

"A pair of live art pieces up for auction. One submerged in a tank for four years not once did she resurface for air and yet here she is alive and walking. The same goes for that Art Piece Sleeping Beauty. No food, no water, just sleeping in a glass casket full of roses for the exact same time."

"Izaya-kun has Sleeping Beauty and I'm sure Celty is on her way to meet The Little Mermaid."

Shinra lifted an eyebrow at his father's use of the word fairytale.

A girl who could breathe underwater, but could not speak due to a certain fear of humans.

And a girl who had no will to live her life choosing to spend most of her life asleep than awake, sleeping for months and years without food.

They both had inhuman qualities that interested his dad's curiosity of the unknown.

But if it distracted his father from Celty then he would be his father's accomplice if it meant protecting Celty from his father.

But Shinra could understand his father's interest in these two girls.

They were people of legends and sometimes he had to wonder. To act as art pieces for so long, what was their purpose for making a move now? And the bigger question.

"Were they really human?"